Recording medium, editing method and editing apparatus

ABSTRACT

If, in a recording medium on which a plurality of programs are collected in a plurality of groups and supervised in this grouped state, a command for editing, such as dividing/linking/erasing the predetermined programs or groups, recorded on the recording medium, the management data is to be edited to perform the editing. The present invention contemplates to provide a solution to meet this request by a recording medium, an editing method and an editing apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a recording medium on which a pluralityof programs are collected in a plurality of groups and supervised inthis grouped state, and an editing method and apparatus for editing,such as dividing/linking/erasing the predetermined programs or groups,recorded on the recording medium.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] An optical disc can be larger in recording capacity than amagnetic disc by two to three order of magnitudes and can be accessed ata higher speed than a tape-shaped recording medium. In addition, theoptical disc has merits such as non-contact recording and/orreproduction for a medium and high durability and, for this reason, hasrecently come to be used extensively.

[0005] Among known optical discs, there are, for example, a replay-onlyoptical disc, conforming, as a standard, to the CD-DA (Digital Audio)format, for a standard CD (Compact Disc) having a replay-only areahaving data recorded in the form of pits, a magneto-optical disc, formedby a magneto-optical recording medium, conforming, as a standard, to theCD-MO (Magneto-Optical) format, as an extension format of the CD-DAformat, having a recording and/or reproducing area, and a hybrid disc,including both a replay-only area, having data recorded thereon as pits,and a recording and/or reproducing area for data recording and/orreproduction.

[0006] Heretofore, in a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus forrecording data on a disc-shaped recording medium, such as amagneto-optical disc or a hybrid disc, recording is halted by a manualoperation whenever the recording data has become useless data in thecourse of recording. For example, in recording a music air from acompact disc to a magneto-optical disc, recording by a magneto-opticaldisc recorder is halted by a manual operation after the end of thereproduction by a CD player.

[0007] Meanwhile, in a disc-shaped recording medium, such as an opticaldisc or a magneto-optical disc, there are provided a main data recordingarea for recording the main data, and a management data area forrecording the management data, and the main data recording area issupervised as to a recorded area and a recordable area by managementdata recorded in the management data area. For example, the optical discconforming to the CD format includes a data area, having program data,such as performance data, recorded thereon, and a lead-in area providedon its inner rim side. As the table-of-contents (TOC) data, showing thesites of recording and recording contents of the data area, the recordedstart address information and the recording end address information forthe entire program data are recorded in order in the lead-in area.

[0008] The present Assignee has already proposed an MD system fordigitally recording and/or reproducing e.g., music signals, using aMini-Disc (MD, a registered trademark) comprised of an optical disc 64mm in diameter accommodated in a cartridge. There are three sorts of theMini-Disc, namely a replay-only optical disc, a recordable optical discand a hybrid disc comprised of a replay-only area and a recordable area.In an MD system capable of recording main data, a program area and UTOC(User TOC) area are provided in the recordable area of the Mini-Disc andthe table of contents data indicating the recording positions andcontents of the program arera are recorded in the UTOC area. That is, inthe case of the Mini-Disc system, there is recorded the management data,termed UTOC, apart from the main data, such as music data, forsupervising the recorded data area, in which the user has made recordingon the disc, and a non-recorded area, that is a recordable area. Therecording apparatus discriminates an area in which to make recording, asit references this UTOC, whilst the reproducing apparatus discriminatesan area to be reproduced as it references the UTOC.

[0009] That is, programs etc as each music air recorded are managed inthe UTOC in terms of tracks as data units, and the start and endaddresses thereof are recorded therein. In a free area in the UTOC,where no recording has been made, there are recorded start and endaddresses, as an area in which to record data as from the current time.

[0010] In the Mini-Disc system, a disc name, capable of indicating e.g.,the disc title as a part of the editing function, and a track name,capable of indicating the title of e.g., a program, recorded in terms ofa track or a program as a unit, can be input and registered by a user inaccordance with a predetermined operating method. In the Mini-Discsystem, the letter information registered as the disc or track name, isstored in a predetermined area on the UTOC, such that, in e.g.,reproduction, the letter information stored can be displayed and outputby referencing the disc name and the track name of the desired trackstored in the UTOC. In the following, the disc name and the track nameare collectively referenced as a “name”.

[0011] By exploiting these functions, the user may register disc ortrack names and subsequently confirm the registration as the name of thedisc loaded in the reproducing apparatus or the name of the track-basedmusic air is demonstrated on a display unit. Meanwhile, in the Mini-Discsystem, recording up to the maximum of 80 minutes (160 minutes formonaural recording) is possible by data compression employing the ATRAC(acoustic transferred adapted coding system). Even the recording of themaximum 320 minutes in a LP4 (long playing) mode by employing the ATRAC3compression system.

[0012] In the conventional Mini-Disc system, there is only a concept ofmanaging the entire disc and the music airs, as a recorded managementmethod, so that, if an album of three CDs is recorded in accordance withATRAC 3, it has not been possible to perform album-based management.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide arecording medium in which plural programs are collectively recorded andmanaged in plural groups and in which the management data can be editedin case editing commands, such as splitting/linking/erasure for theprograms or the groups of programs are issued.

[0014] In one aspect, the present invention provides a recording mediumin which a plurality of programs are collected into a plurality ofgroups and are managed and recorded in this form, in which the recordingmedium includes a program recording area in which the programs arerecorded, a first management data recording area in which the firstmanagement data for supervising the program names of the plural programsis recorded and a second management data recording area in which thenames of the programs collected in the plural groups and the names ofthe groups are correlated and are recorded as the second management dataalong with the separating information for separating the program namesand the group names.

[0015] In another aspect, the present invention provides an editingapparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording medium includinga program area for recording a plurality of programs for recording aplurality of programs, and a management area, having recorded thereinthe first management data for managing the program names for respectiveprograms recorded in the program area, and the second management data,made up of the range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups into which the plural programs recorded in theprogram area are collected, special codes partitioning the groups fromone another, and group names, in which the apparatus includes operatingmeans for commanding changes in the sequence of predetermined ones ofthe plural groups and editing means which, in case changes in thesequence of predetermined ones of the plural groups are commanded by theoperating means, edits the correlation of the range information ofprogram numbers making up each of a plurality of groups in the secondmanagement data and the group names to cause block movement of thepredetermined groups.

[0016] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which theapparatus includes operating means for commanding division of apredetermined program of predetermined ones of the plural groups, andediting means which, in case division of a predetermined program ofpredetermined ones of the plural groups is commanded by the operatingmeans, edits the correlation of the range information of program numbersmaking up each of a plurality of groups in the second management dataand the group names.

[0017] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which theapparatus includes operating means for commanding linking of two of theprograms making up a predetermined group of the plural groups, andediting means which, in case linking of two of the programs making up apredetermined group of the plural groups is commanded by the operatingmeans, edits the correlation of the range information of program numbersmaking up each of a plurality of groups in the second management dataand the group names.

[0018] In another aspect, the present invention provides an editingapparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording medium includinga program area for recording a plurality of programs for recording aplurality of programs, and a management area, having recorded thereinthe first management data for managing the program names for respectiveprograms recorded in the program area, and the second management data,made up of the range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups into which the plural programs recorded in theprogram area are collected, special codes partitioning the groups fromone another, and group names, in which the apparatus includes operatingmeans for commanding division of a predetermined group of the pluralgroups into two, and editing means which, in case division of thepredetermined group is commanded by the operating means, edits thecorrelation of the range information of program numbers making up eachof a plurality of groups in the second management data and the groupnames.

[0019] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which theapparatus includes operating means for commanding linking ofpredetermined ones of the plural groups, and editing means which, incase linking of predetermined ones of the plural groups is commanded bythe operating means, edits the correlation of the range information ofprogram numbers making up each of a plurality of groups in the secondmanagement data and the group names to cause block movement of thepredetermined groups.

[0020] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which theapparatus includes operating means for commanding block erasure ofpredetermined ones of the plural groups, and editing means which, incase block erasure of predetermined ones of the plural groups iscommanded by the operating means, edits the correlation of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsin the second management data and the group.

[0021] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting method for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which themethod includes an operating step for commanding changes in the sequenceof predetermined ones of the plural group, and an editing step which, incase changes in the sequence of predetermined ones of the plural groupsare commanded by the operating step, edits the correlation of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsin the second management data and the group names to cause blockmovement of the predetermined groups.

[0022] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting method for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which themethod includes an operating step for commanding division of apredetermined program of predetermined ones of the plural groups, and anediting step which, in case division of a predetermined program ofpredetermined ones of the plural groups is commanded by the operatingstep, edits the correlation of the range information of program numbersmaking up each of a plurality of groups in the second management dataand the group names.

[0023] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting method for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which themethod includes an operating step for commanding linking of two of theprograms making up a predetermined group of the plural groups, and anediting step which, in case linking of two of the programs making up apredetermined group of the plural groups is commanded by the operatingstep, edits the correlation of the range information of program numbersmaking up each of a plurality of groups in the second management dataand the group names.

[0024] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting method for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which themethod includes an operating step for commanding division of apredetermined group of the plural groups into two and an editing stepwhich, in case division of the predetermined group is commanded by theoperating step, edits the correlation of the range information ofprogram numbers making up each of a plurality of groups in the secondmanagement data and the group names.

[0025] In still another aspect, the present invention provides anediting method for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in the program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in the program area are collected, special codespartitioning the groups from one another, and group names, in which themethod includes an operating step for commanding linking ofpredetermined ones of the plural groups, and an editing step which, incase linking of predetermined ones of the plural groups is commanded bythe operating step, edits the correlation of the range information ofprogram numbers making up each of a plurality of groups in the secondmanagement data and the group names to cause block movement of thepredetermined groups.

[0026] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides an editingmethod for editing a program recorded on a recording medium including aprogram area for recording a plurality of programs for recording aplurality of programs, and a management area, having recorded thereinthe first management data for managing the program names for respectiveprograms recorded in the program area, and the second management data,made up of the range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups into which the plural programs recorded in theprogram area are collected, special codes partitioning the groups fromone another, and group names, in which the method includes an operatingstep for commanding block erasure of predetermined ones of the pluralgroups, and an editing step which, in case block erasure ofpredetermined ones of the plural groups is commanded by the operatingstep, edits the correlation of the range information of program numbersmaking up each of a plurality of groups in the second management dataand the group.

[0027] According to the present invention, as described above, arecording medium is provided which includes a program area in which torecord plural programs, and a management area in which to record thesecond management data for supervising the group name associated witheach group into which the plural programs recorded in the program areais collected. The second management data, recorded in the managementarea, is made up of the range information of the program numbers makingup the group, special codes partitioning the respective group names, andthe group names, so that the programs recorded in the recording mediumcan be supervised as plural groups.

[0028] According to the present invention, if, in editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs, and a management area, having recorded thereinthe first management data for managing the program names for respectiveprograms recorded in the program area, and the second management data,made up of the range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups into which the plural programs recorded in theprogram area are collected, special codes partitioning the groups fromone another, and group names, a change in the sequence is commanded topredetermined groups in the plural groups, the correlation between therange information of the program numbers making up the groups in thesecond management data and the group names is edited to effect blockmovement of the predetermined groups to supervise the programs recordedin the recording medium to effect group-based movement.

[0029] According to the present invention, if, in editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs, and a management area, having recorded thereinthe first management data for managing the program names for respectiveprograms recorded in the program area, and the second management data,made up of the range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups into which the plural programs recorded in theprogram area are collected, special codes partitioning the groups fromone another, and group names, a predetermined program forming thepredetermined groups in the plural groups is commanded to be split, thecorrelation between the range information of the program numbers makingup the groups in the second management data and the group names isedited to supervise the programs recorded in the recording medium asplural groups to effect the editing of dividing the program in thegroup.

[0030] According to the present invention, if, in editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs, and amanagement area, having recorded therein the first management data formanaging the program names for respective programs recorded in theprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in the program area arecollected, special codes partitioning the groups from one another, andgroup names, two of the programs forming the predetermined groups in theplural groups are linked, the correlation between the range informationof the program numbers making up the groups in the second managementdata and the group names is edited to supervise the programs recorded inthe recording medium as plural groups to effect the editing of linkingthe two programs in the group.

[0031] According to the present invention, if, in editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs, and amanagement area, having recorded therein the first management data formanaging the program names for respective programs recorded in theprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in the program area arecollected, special codes partitioning the groups from one another, andgroup names, a predetermined group is commanded to be split into two,the correlation between the range information of the program numbersmaking up the group in the second management data and the group name isedited to supervise the programs recorded in the recording medium asplural groups to effect the editing of dividing the group into twoportions.

[0032] According to the present invention, if, in editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs, and amanagement area, having recorded therein the first management data formanaging the program names for respective programs recorded in theprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in the program area arecollected, special codes partitioning the groups from one another, andgroup names, predetermined groups are commanded to be linked together,the correlation between the range information of the program numbersmaking up the groups in the second management data and the group namesis edited to supervise the programs recorded in the recording medium asplural groups to effect the editing of linking the groups together.

[0033] According to the present invention, if, in editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs, and amanagement area, having recorded therein the first management data formanaging the program names for respective programs recorded in theprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in the program area arecollected, special codes partitioning the groups from one another, andgroup names, predetermined groups are commanded to be erased in a block,the correlation between the range information of the program numbersmaking up the groups in the second management data and the group namesis edited to supervise the programs recorded in the recording medium asplural groups to effect the editing of block group-based erasure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an MD playerembodying the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 2 illustrates a cluster format of a Mini-Disc.

[0036]FIG. 3 illustrates a UTOC sector 0 of the Mini-Disc.

[0037]FIG. 4 illustrates a link configuration of UTOC sector 0 of theMini-Disc.

[0038]FIG. 5 illustrates a UTOC sector 1 of the Mini-Disc

[0039]FIG. 6 illustrates a data allocation structure of RAM provided ina system controller and a buffer memory in the MD recorder.

[0040]FIG. 7 shows the contents of a menu display in the MD recorder.

[0041]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence in the albumtitle input mode in the MD recorder.

[0042]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing for registration in adisc name area in the album title input mode.

[0043]FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a typical example ofregistration contents of a disc name area in case the registrationprocessing in the disc name area in case of performing registrationprocessing in the disc name area.

[0044]FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another typical example ofregistration contents of a disc name area in case the registrationprocessing in the disc name area in case of performing registrationprocessing in the disc name area.

[0045]FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing still another typical exampleof registration contents of a disc name area in case the registrationprocessing in the disc name area in case of performing registrationprocessing in the disc name area.

[0046]FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence of thealbum title display mode in the MD recorder.

[0047]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence of thealbum erasure mode in the MD recorder.

[0048]FIG. 15 schematically shows a typical example of registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing the processing ofalbum erasure mode.

[0049]FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the continuous track erasureprocessing in the album erasure mode.

[0050]FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the single music air erasureprocessing in the album erasure mode.

[0051]FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the album title erasure processingin the album erasure mode.

[0052]FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the album movement mode in the MDrecorder.

[0053]FIG. 20 schematically shows a typical example of registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing the processing ofalbum movement mode.

[0054]FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence of thealbum AMS mode in the MD recorder.

[0055]FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence of thealbum repeat mode in the MD recorder.

[0056]FIG. 23 schematically shows a typical example of the registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing editing processingby album linking.

[0057]FIG. 24 schematically shows a typical example of the registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing editing processingby album splitting.

[0058]FIG. 25 schematically shows a typical example of the registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing editing processingby erasing tracks in an album.

[0059]FIG. 26 schematically shows a typical example of the registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing editing processingby linking tracks in an album.

[0060]FIG. 27 schematically shows a typical example of the registrationcontents of the disc name area in case of performing editing processingby splitting tracks in an album.

[0061]FIG. 28 schematically shows registration contents in case ofwrite-once recording plural music airs.

[0062]FIG. 29 schematically shows registration contents in case ofoverwrite recording plural music airs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0063] Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be explained in detail.

[0064] The present invention is applied to an MD recorder 1 shown forexample in the block diagram of FIG. 1.

[0065] The MD recorder 1 is capable of recording and/or reproducingspeech data on or from a magneto-optical disc (MD; Mini-Disc, aregistered trademark) 90.

[0066] A magneto-optical disc 90, housed in a cartridge, is configuredfor being irradiated with the light from an optical head 3 as an opticalpickup or applying a magnetic field from a magnetic head byopening/closing a shutter mechanism provided in the cartridge inrecording and/or reproduction.

[0067] The magneto-optical disc 90 is run in rotation at a CLV (constantlinear velocity) by a spindle motor 2.

[0068] In the present embodiment, a disc detection unit 30 is providedfor detecting the loading/unloading state of the magneto-optical disc 90with respect to the loading position of the magneto-optical disc 90 inthe MD recorder 1. It is sufficient if the disc detection unit 30 isable to detect the possible loading of the magneto-optical disc 90.

[0069] There is no particular limitation to the specified structure ofthe disc detection unit 30. For example, the disc detection unit 30 maybe a mechanical switch thrust or opened by the cartridge of themagneto-optical disc 90 as the magneto-optical disc 90 is in the loadedstate, or may be a photo-interrupter that is able to detect the possiblepresence of the magneto-optical disc 90.

[0070] It is also possible to detect the possible loading of the discbased on a signal derived from the reflection of the laser lightradiated from the optical head 3 as now explained.

[0071] The optical head 3 is mounted in a facing relation to a magnetichead 6 a with the loaded magneto-optical disc 90 in-between. The opticalhead 3 is made up of an objective lens 3 a, a bi-axial mechanism 4, asemiconductor laser, not shown, and a light reception unit for receivingthe light radiated by the semiconductor laser and reflected by themagneto-optical disc surface.

[0072] The bi-axial mechanism 4 includes a focusing coil for driving theobjective lens 3 a in a direction towards and away from themagneto-optical disc 90 and a tracking coil for driving the objectivelens 3 a radially of the magneto-optical disc.

[0073] There is also provided a sled mechanism 5 for causing markedmovement of the optical head 3 in its entirety along the radialdirection of the magneto-optical disc 90.

[0074] The reflected light information, detected by the light receivingsection in the optical head 3, is sent to an RF amplifier 7. Followingcurrent/voltage conversion, the matrix processing is executed togenerate focusing error signals FE and tracking error signals TE as wellas RF signals.

[0075] When the light is illuminated on the magneto-optical disc 90 at alaser power lower than that in recording, the magnetic field vector isdetected by exploiting the magnetic Kerr effect of the reflected lightto generate the RF signals, as replay signals, based on the detectedmagnetic field vector.

[0076] The focusing error signals FE and the tracking error signals Te,generated by the RF amplifier 7, are processed by a servo circuit 9 withphase adjustment or gain adjustment, and subsequently applied to thefocusing coil and to the tracking coil of the bi-axial mechanism 4 via adriving amplifier, not shown.

[0077] From the tracking error signals TE, sled error signals aregenerated in the sled mechanism 5 in the servo circuit 9 so as to beapplied via a sled drive amplifier to the sled mechanism 5.

[0078] The RF signals, generated by the RF amplifier 7, are binary-codedby an EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8 and demodulated for EFM(eight-to-fourteen modulation) while being corrected for errors withCIRC (cross-interleave read-Solomon coding) so as to be supplied to amemory controller 12.

[0079] On the magneto-optical disc 90 are tormed grooves with ameandering at a predetermined frequency to record address data byfrequency modulation. The predetermined meandering frequency of thegrooves is 22.05 kHz.

[0080] These address data may be extracted by frequency demodulation viaa bandpass filter in an address decoder 10 adapted for passing only thepredetermined frequency.

[0081] The EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8 generates binary-coded EFM signalsor spindle error signals for rotationally controlling the disc based onan address decoder, as extracted from the address decoder, to apply theso-generated spindle error signals through the servo circuit 9 to thespindle motor 2.

[0082] Moreover, the EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8 controls the pull-inoperation of the phase-locked loop, based on the binary-coded EFMsignals, to generate spindle error signals for rotationally controllingthe disc to apply the so-generated spindle error signals on the spindlemotor 2.

[0083] The error-corrected binary-coded data is written by the memorycontrolling 12 in a buffer memory 13.

[0084] When more than a predetermined amount of data stored in thebuffer memory 13, memory controller 12 reads out data from the buffermemory 13 at a transfer rate sufficiently slower than the write transferrate and outputs data as audio data.

[0085] The data is stored first in the buffer memory 13 and subsequentlyoutput as audio data, so that, if unnecessary track jumps occur againstdisturbances, such as vibrations, such that continuous data read-outfrom the optical head 3 is interrupted, data corresponding to the datafor the time necessary for re-arrangement of the optical head 3 to anaddress where the track jump has occurred is pre-stored in the buffermemory 13, thus realizing the continuous audio signal outputting withoutsound interruptions.

[0086] In the present embodiment, if a 4-Mbyte RAM is used as the buffermemory 13, audio data continuing for about 10 seconds can be stored inthe state of the buffer memory 13 fully charged with data.

[0087] Meanwhile, the operation of the memory controller 12 iscontrolled by a system controller 11.

[0088] The data read-out from the magneto-optical disc 90 has beencompressed in recording in accordance with a predetermined compressionmethod, herein the ATRAC (Acoustic Transferred Adapted Coding) system.The data read out from the buffer memory 13 under control by the memorycontroller 12 is decompressed by an audio compression encoder—expansiondecoder 14 into decompressed digital data which then is applied to a D/Aconverter 15.

[0089] The D/A converter 15 converts the digital data, decompressed bythe audio compression encoder—expansion decoder 14, into analog audiosignals, which are sent at an output terminal 16 to a replay outputsystem, such as amplifier, loudspeaker and a headphone, not shown, so asto be output as replay audio signals.

[0090] In the above-described replay operation, the system controller 11is responsive to the operation by an operating unit 19 to transfervarious servo commands to the servo circuit 9, command the memorycontroller 12 to control the buffer memory 13, perform control to causea display unit 20, display the letter information, such as the play timeelapsed or the title of the program being reproduced, or to performcontrol such as spindle servo or decoding processing control in theEFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8.

[0091] There is also provided a remote commander 29 for outputtingcommands responsive to the user operations as e.g., the IR modulationsignals. This command, that is the operating information, is convertedby an IR receiving unit 23 into electrical signals, which are routed tothe system controller 11. The system controller then performs necessarycontrol processing responsive to the operational information from the IRreceiving unit 23.

[0092] If, in this MD recorder 1, audio data, such as music air, is tobe recorded on the magneto-optical disc 90, the audio signals aresupplied to an input terminal 17.

[0093] The analog audio signals, output from an analog output terminalof the reproducing apparatus, such as a CD player, are input to theinput terminal 17, and converted by an A/D converter 18 into digitalsignals, which are sent to the audio compression encoder—expansiondecoder 14.

[0094] The digital audio signals, input to the audio compressionencoder—expansion decoder 14, are compression-coded in accordance withthe ATRAC (Acoustic Transferred Adapted Coding) 3 system. The compresseddigital audio signals are temporarily stored via memory controller 12 inthe buffer memory 13.

[0095] The memory controller 12 detects that a predetermined amount ofthe compressed data have been stored in the buffer memory 13 and permitsthe data to be read out from the buffer memory 13.

[0096] The compressed data read out from the buffer memory 13 areprocessed by the EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8 with e.g., error codeappendage or EFM and thence supplied to a magnetic head driving circuit6.

[0097] The magnetic head driving circuit 6 is responsive to the datasupplied thereto to apply a magnetic field of N or S poles of themagnetic head 6 a.

[0098] In recording for applying the magnetic field in this manner, thesystem controller 11 controls the radiating power of the semiconductorlaser, not shown, of the optical head 3, to heat the magneto-opticaldisc surface up to the Curie temperature. This attaches the magneticfield information applied from the magnetic head 6 a to the discrecording surface to record data as the magnetic field information.

[0099] In recording, the system controller 11 transfers various servocommands to the servo circuit 9, issues control commands to the buffermemory 13 to the memory controller 12, performs control to cause thedisplay unit 20 to demonstrate e.g., the track number of the programbeing recorded or the elapsed recording time, or performs encoding orservo control in the EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8.

[0100] This MD recorder 1 is able to record music air or track asprogram as audio data, the letter information, such as letterinformation for the entire disc, such as the letter information, e.g.,the track name or disc name, in addition to the audio data.

[0101] In order for the user to input the letter information by way ofname registration, the operating unit 19 includes a letter selectionunit, such as an operating dial, and a decision key for determining theinput letter string to terminate the letter inputting operation.

[0102] The remote commander 29 is provided with alphabet keys from A toZ, space key -, symbol keys such as ? or // and ten keys for inputtingnumerical figures, in order to enable letter inputting with the aid ofthe remote commander 29. The remote commander 29 is also provided with adecision key for determining the input letter string, using these keys,or to terminate the letter inputting.

[0103] The system controller 11 holds letters input from the operatingunit 19 or the remote commander 29 on the RAM 24. When the letter stringis determined by the decision operation, the system controller 11registers the letter string in a state matched to the program selectedfor the time being.

[0104] The program selected for the time being is the program being thenreproduced, recorded or paused. If such state is not prevalent, with theprogram not being selected, the input letter string is handled as beingthe letter information for the entire disc.

[0105] The letter information registered is written on themagneto-optical disc 90 as data of the UTOC sector 1, as laterexplained, so as to be finalized on the magneto-optical disc 90. TheUTOC data is updated at a predetermined timing following the recordingoperation or the letter inputting operation.

[0106] However, in recording and/or reproducing the magneto-optical disc90, it is necessary to read out the management data recorded on themagneto-optical disc 90, that is, the PTOC (pre-mastered TOC) or theUTOC (user TOC). The system controller 11 then discriminates an addressfor an area for recording or and an address of an area to be reproduced.

[0107] This management data is held in the buffer memory 13. To thisend, the buffer memory 13 is partitioned into a buffer area used as adata area for recording and/or reproducing data and a TOC area forholding the management data.

[0108] The system controller 11 reads out the management data by theoperation of reproducing the innermost rim of the disc carrying therecorded management data on loading the magneto-optical disc 90 to storethe read-out information in the buffer memory 13 so as to be referencedin the course of the recording/reproducing/editing of themagneto-optical disc 90.

[0109] Meanwhile, the UTOC is rewritten for data recording or a varietyof editing operations. In each recording/editing operation, the systemcontroller 11 performs UTOC updating processing on the UTOC informationstored in the buffer memory 13 and, responsive to the rewritingoperation, rewrites the UTOC area of the magneto-optical disc 90 at apredetermined timing.

[0110] That is, when the user has input the letter information for nameregistration, the input letter information as the disc name or the trackname is held on the RAM 24. When the letter input has become finalized,the management data in the buffer memory 13 is updated by exploiting theletter information in the RAM 24. This management data is written at apredetermined timing in the UTOC area of the magneto-optical disc 90 toupdate the UTOC contents of the magneto-optical disc 90.

[0111] In the present embodiment, since the letter information as thename is obtained by the editing operation performed by the user, as theletter inputting operation for name registration, it may be said to bethe editing information in the management data.

[0112] Moreover, in the present embodiment, in which the TOC letterinformation area is set in the RAM 24 based on the above structure, nameletter inputting and editing may be carried out not only on themagneto-optical disc 90 loaded on the MD recorder 1 but also on themagneto-optical disc 90 not loaded on the MD recorder 1, as will beexplained subsequently in detail.

[0113] A cluster format of the recording data track on themagneto-optical disc 90 is now explained.

[0114] The recording operation in the Mini-Disc system is performed interms of a cluster as unit. The format for the cluster is shown in FIGS.2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E.

[0115] As the recording track in the Mini-Disc system, plural clustersCL are formed contiguously, as shown in FIG. 2A, with one cluster beingthe minimum recording unit. Each cluster corresponds to two to threecycles of tracks.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 2B, each cluster CL is made up of a sub-dataarea of four sectors SFC to SFF and the main data area of 32 sectors S00to S1F. In audio data, the main data is audio data compressed by ATRACprocessing.

[0117] One sector is a data unit made up of 2352 bytes.

[0118] The 4-sector sub-data area is used for sub-data or as a linkingarea, while the 32-sector main data area is used for recording TOC andaudio data. The sectors of the linking area are throw-out sectors formatching the longer interleaving length, used herein, of the CIRC to thesector length of 13.3 msec as used for error correction in e.g., a CD,and basically represent a reserve area. However, these sectors may alsobe used for some processing or other or for recording some control dataor other.

[0119] Meanwhile, addresses are recorded on the sector basis.

[0120] Each sector is subdivided into sound groups, as shown in FIG. 2C,while two sectors are subdivided into 11 sound groups, as shown in FIG.2D.

[0121] That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, the sound groupsSG00 to SG0A are comprised in two consecutive sectors, made up of aneven sector, such as sector S00, and an odd sector, such as sector S01.Each sound group is made up of 424 bytes, and corresponds to the sounddata volume corresponding to 11.61 msec.

[0122] Referring to FIG. 2E, data are recorded in L and R channelswithin one sound group SG, as shown in FIG. 2E. For example, the soundgroup SG00 is made up of L-channel data L0 and R-channel data R0, whilstthe sound group SG01 is made up of L-channel data L1 and R-channel dataR1.

[0123] Meanwhile, 212 bytes which become the data area of the L-Rchannel are called a sound trame.

[0124] The cluster format, explained in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, isformed in the entire area of the magneto-optical disc 90, which isdivided in the radial direction into a radially inner area as amanagement area and into a program area contiguous to the managementarea.

[0125] In the radially inner disc area, there is provided a replay-onlyarea in which replay-only data are recorded in the form of phase pits.Next to the replay-only area, there is recorded the photo-magneticallyrecordable and/or reproducible area. The management area is provided onthe innermost areas of the replay-only area and the photomagnetic area.

[0126] In the program area, formed consecutively to the management areaof the photomagnetic area, audio data are recorded in each sector of themain data area of the program area shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D.

[0127] As the management area, a PTOC (pre-mastered TOC) for areamanagement of the entire disc is provided in the replay-only area. Inthe management area in the photomagnetic area contiguous to thereplay-only area, there is recorded the UTOC (user table-of-contents)information used for supervising the respective programs as audio dataof e.g., music airs recorded in the program area.

[0128] A UTOC sector, as the management data for supervising therecording and/or reproducing operation of a track corresponding to theprogram of e.g., the music airs in the magneto-optical disc 90, is nowexplained.

[0129]FIG. 3 shows the format of for UTOC sector 0.

[0130] As the UTOC sectors, sectors from sector 0 up to sector 31 may beprovided. That is, each of the sectors S00 to S1F of one cluster in themanagement area may be used. The sectors 1, 4 are the areas for theletter information, whilst the sector 2 is an area for recording therecording date and time.

[0131] The UTOC sector 0 is mainly the data management area where thereis recorded the management data on the free area in which the user hasmade recording and in which a program can be newly recorded. That is, inthe sector 0, a start address as a start point or an end address as anend point of each program recorded in the program area, the copyingprotection information as a track mode representing the properties ofeach program, and the emphasis information, are supervised.

[0132] For example, if a music air is to be recorded on the disc 1, thesystem controller 11 finds out the free area on the disc, from the UTOCsector 0, to record the audio data therein. In replay, the area in whichthe music air to be reproduced has been recorded is discriminated fromthe UTOC sector 0, and is accessed for reproduction.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 3, there are recorded in the UTOC sector 0, incontinuation to the header portion forming a sync pattern with 12 bytes,“cluster H”, “cluster L” and “sector”, as three byte data representingthe address of the sector, a maker code “maker code” representing thedisc producer, a model code “model code”, a first program number “firstTNO”, the last program number “last TNO”, the sector using state, thedisc serial number “disc serial No.” and the disc ID, by way of anexample.

[0134] There are also recorded a pointer P-DFA (pointer for defectivearea) indicating the leading position of the slot in which to store thedefect position produced on the disc, the pointer-EMPTY (pointer forEMPTY slot), indicating the slot using state, pointer P-ERA (pointer forfree area), indicating the leading position of the slot supervising therecordable area and accommodating table indicating data made up ofpointer P-TNO1, P-TNO2, . . . , P-TNO255 indicating the leading positionof the slot associated with the respective program numbers.

[0135] Next, a management table having 255 of 8-byte slots is provided.In each slot, the start address, end address, track mode and the linkinformation are supervised.

[0136] In the present magneto-optical disc 90, it is unnecessary torecord the data consecutively but sequential data strings may berecorded discretely, that is as plural parts, on the recording medium.Meanwhile, the parts denote temporally consecutive data recorded inphysically consecutive clusters.

[0137] That is, the reproducing apparatus, adapted for coping with themagneto-optical disc 90, is designed so that the data are transientlyrecorded in the buffer memory 13, and so that the write rate and thereadout rate to or from the buffer memory 13 are varied, in a manner asdescribed above. Thus, the optical head 3 may be caused to sequentiallyaccess data discretely recorded on the magneto-optical disc 90 tomemorize the data in the buffer memory 13 to restore the stored datainto the sequential data string on the buffer memory 13.

[0138] With this structure, continuous speech reproduction is notobstructed because the write rate is faster than the readout rate in thebuffer memory 13 during reproduction.

[0139] Moreover, if the program shorter than the recorded program isoverwritten on the pre-recorded program, any redundant portion may bespecified as a recordable area managed from the pointer P-FRA withoutbeing erased to utilize the recording capacity efficiently.

[0140] Using the case of the pointer P-FRA supervising the recordablearea, the method for linking the discrete areas is explained withreference to FIGS. 4A to 4F.

[0141] Referring to FIG. 4A, if a value such as 03 h (hexa-decimal) isrecorded in a pointer P-FRA indicating the leading position of the slotsupervising the recordable area, the slot corresponding to this “03h” isaccessed. That is, the data of the slot 03 h in the management table isread.

[0142] Referring to FIG. 4B, the start and end addresses, recorded inthe slot 03 h, indicate the beginning and end points of a part recordedon the disc.

[0143] The link information recorded in the slot 03 h indicates anaddress of the slot which is to come next. In this case, 18 h isrecorded.

[0144] Referring to FIG. 4C, the link information recorded in the slot18 h is traced to access the slot 2 Bh shown in FIG. 4E to grasp thestarting and end points of a part of the disc as the start and endaddresses recorded in the slot 2 Bh.

[0145] In similar manner, the link information is traced untilappearance of data “00 h” shown in FIG. 4F to grasp the addresses of theentire parts managed from the pointer P-FRA.

[0146] Thus, the slots are traced until the link information is 00 hindicating null, with the slot indicated by the pointer P-FRA as astarting point, whereby the parts discretely recorded on the disc can belinked on the memory. In such case, the totality of parts as therecordable area on the magneto-optical disc 90 can be grasped.

[0147] In the present embodiment, the pointer P-FRA is taken as anexample. In similar manner, the pointers P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-TNO1, P-TNO2,. . . , P-TNO255, may also be supervised by linking discrete parts.

[0148]FIG. 5 shows the format of the UTOC sector 1.

[0149] In the UTOC sector 1, the disc title, for example, is managed asthe letter information associated with respective programs recorded inthe program area and as the letter information associated with theentire magneto-optical disc.

[0150] If the program recorded is audio data, the disc title is theinformation such as the album title or the performer's name, while theletter information associated with each program is the information suchas the name of the music air. For registering the letter information,the user optionally sets and inputs a letter.

[0151] The letter information for each program is recorded in a slot ina letter table specified by a pointer P-TNA(x) of the accommodatingtable indicating data within a range from 1 to 255. Although the 7-byteletter information can be recorded in one slot, plural slots may belinked in recording, using the link information, if there are manyletters.

[0152] In the UTOC sector 2, the recording time and date for eachprogram, recorded in the program area, is managed in similar manner.

[0153] In the UTOC sector 4, katakana and kanji are managed as in FIG. 5so that these characters can be used as the fonts of the letterinformation, such as titles of the programs recorded in the program areaor the title of the entire magneto-optical disc.

[0154] The illustrative structures of the buffer memory 13 and the RAM24 provided in the MD recorder 1 of the present embodiment arehereinafter explained.

[0155] Referring to FIG. 6A, there are separately set in the buffermemory 13 a data area A1, where the recording data/replay data arestored, and a TOC area A2, where the management data on the recordingdata/replay data are stored.

[0156] As aforesaid, the TOC area A1 is an area in which PTOC and UTOCas management data read out from the magneto-optical disc 90, loaded onthe MD recorder 1, is stored, and in which the management data issequentially updated in accordance with the editing operations, such asrecording operation or name registration.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 6B, the RAM 24 is split into three areas of asystem controller control area A11, a letter information control areaA12, and a TOC letter information area A13.

[0158] The system controller control area A11 is an area in which theinformation such as program data used when the system controller 11executes a variety of control processing operations or the results ofcalculations obtained by the control processing operations executed aresequentially stored.

[0159] The letter information control area A12 is an area se as aworking area used in case of performing an editing operation of creatingor changing the name by the input letter information in accordance withthe operation of inputting the letter information for name editingexecuted by the user.

[0160] The TOC letter information area A13 is an area in which to storethe letter information as the track or disc name as finalized by theprocessing for name registration.

[0161] Although there is no particular limitation to the memory deviceforming the buffer memory 13 and the RAM 24, the buffer memory 13, forexample, may be formed by a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) for costsaving in view that a larger volume of the recording data/replay dataare stored in the buffer memory 13.

[0162] On the other hand, the RAM 24 is not in need of a larger capacityand hence may be formed by an SRAM (static random access memory) withoutbeing conscious of expenses.

[0163] In the present MD recorder 1, album names are stated in the discname areas of the UTOC sector 1, for supervising the music airs recordedon the disc 90 in plural groups, in accordance with the followingprinciples (A), (B) and (C):

[0164] (A) The first and last program numbers “First TNO” and “Last TNO”in an album are stated with a special code “-” in-between, or theprogram numbers are stated by partitioning with a numbers “First TNO”and “Last TNO” in an album are stated with a special code “;”in-between. Meanwhile, the style of stating the program numbers with thespecial code “-” may co-exist with the style of stating the programnumbers with a special code “;”.

[0165] (B) The program number and the album name are separated from eachother with the special code “;” in-between.

[0166] (C) The different albums are partitioned from each other by aspecial code “//”, while the same special code “//” is placed at back ofthe last album name.

[0167] If three albums, namely a program number (n1-n2), an album name1, a program number (n2-n4), an album name 2, a program number (n5-n6)and an album name 3 are recorded, “n1-n2; album name 1//n2-n4; albumname 2//n5-n6; album name 3” is stated as an album name in the disc namearea of the UTOC sector 1.

[0168] The album-based program number TNO belongs to the range fromFirst TNO to Last TNO and, although lacking numbers are tolerated, theprogram number must increase incessantly.

[0169] For example, if a program number (n1-n2), an album name 1, aprogram number (n3, n5, n10), album name 2, program numbers (n12-n15)and the album name 3 are recorded, “n1-n2; album name 1//3, n5, n10;album name 2//n12-n15, n17; album name 3//” is stated as an album name.In this case, there is recorded the program in the range from n1 to n2in the album name 1, while there is recorded in the album name 2 theprogram for n3, n5 and n20, such that the program in the range fromalbum names n12 to n15 and the program n17 are recorded in the albumname 2.

[0170] Allowance is made for tracks not belonging to any tracks.

[0171] It is also possible that one track be registered in pluralalbums. In this case, only one track is recorded, only the registrationin the album is overlapping. By so doing, unneeded tracks are notrecorded such that the recording capacity in the recording medium issaved to enable recording of a larger number of tracks.

[0172] In an album formed by a sole track, the special code “-” betweenthe program numbers TNOs may be omitted.

[0173] When stating the disc name inclusive of the entire albums and thetrack-name,

[0174] TNO=0 is stated first at a leading end.

[0175] Allowance is made for a blank album name null.

[0176] Allowance is also made for the use of “-” and “/”.

[0177] Overlapped album names in one disc is allowed.

[0178] It is possible to simplify the processing by providing thefollowing limitations.

[0179] It is noted that a sole album is formed only by a set of tracksindicated by consecutive program numbers.

[0180] A given one of the tracks is registered only in one album.

[0181] If the above conditions are used, and if, in a disc bearing thedisc name “collections”, an album with an album name “TedZeppelin_Presence” is recorded in the track numbers TR 1 to 7, an albumwith an album name “Dream Come True” is recorded in the track numbers TR8 to 17, an album with an album name “Hikaru Utade/Automatic” isrecorded in the track numbers TR 18 to 24, track numbers TR25, TR26 areunrecorded, an album with an album name “null-unnamed” is recorded inthe track numbers TR 27 to 30, an album with an album name “1999-2000;My Favorites” is recorded in the track numbers TR 31 to 38, an albumwith an album name “Love is Over” is recorded in the track number TR 39,track number TR40 is unrecorded, and an album with an album name “Loveis Over” is recorded in the track number TR 41, the followingdescription is made in the disc name area of the UTOC sector 1:

[0182] 0; collections //1-7; Ted Zeppelin “Presence”//8-17; Dream ComeTrue//18-24; Hikaru Utade/Automatic//27-30; //31-38; 1999-2000; MyFavorites//39; Love is Over//41-41; Love is Over.

[0183] That is, the magneto-optical disc 90, the information for whichis recorded and/or reproduced by this MD recorder 1, includes amanagement area utilized as a disc name area of the UTOC sector 1 inwhich are recorded the first management data and the second managementdata. The first management data supervises the program area forrecording plural programs and the program name associated with eachprogram recorded in the program area, and the second management datacollects the plural programs recorded in the program area in pluralgroups corresponding to the album to supervise the group namecorresponding to the name of the grouped albums. The second managementdata recorded in the management area of the magnetooptical disc 90, theinformation for which is recorded and/or reproduced by the MD recorder1, is made up of “n1-n2” as the range information for the programnumbers making up the group, a special code “//” separating the groupnames corresponding to the plural album names and the group namecorresponding to the album name. The second management data includes adisc name as the label name of the recording medium itself of themagneto-optical disc 90.

[0184] Stated differently, the management data supervising one or moregroups demarcates the first management area supervising respectivegroups by separating symbols “//”. In each first management data, thesecond management data supervising the program forming each group isdemarcated from the third management data supervising the name of eachgroup by separating symbols “;” for management.

[0185] In this MD recorder 1, the second management data formed by therange information “n1-n2” of the program numbers forming the groupcorresponding to the album, the special code “//” demarcating the pluralgroup names corresponding to the album names and the group names isrecorded in the disc name area of the UTOC sector 1 of themagneto-optical disc 90 to supervise the programs recorded in theprogram area to supervise the plural programs recorded in the programarea as plural groups to perform editing processing.

[0186] That is, the system controller 11 in this MD recorder 1 has thefollowing functions based on the group information corresponding to theso-supervised album name. The system controller 11 displays the menu,shown in FIG. 7, in the display unit 20 and, responsive to the inputfrom the operating unit 19 or the remote commander 29, executes variousprocessing such as the album title input mode, album title display mode,album erasure mode, album movement mode, album AMS mode or the albumrepeat mode.

[0187] The album title input mode is such a mode established on pushingan edit button as an album button is pushed. In this album title inputmode, the title of the album being played can be input. The “albumtitle” is selected from the edit menu and the leading and last musicairs are selected by range designation to input the album title.

[0188] The album title inputting mode is carried out in accordance witha sequence shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8.

[0189] For facilitating the processing and the description, it isassumed that a musical air in an album is designated by specifying thenumber of the music air by a special code “-”. It is noted that themusic air designation by a special code “,” is performed by processingsimilar to that for the special code “-” and can be coped with bychanging the condition for decision. For further simplifying theexplanation, it is also assumed that plural albums are not registered inan overlapping fashion on one track.

[0190] In the album title inputting mode, the inputting of the leadingmusic air number is accepted and captured into a register (step S1) andsubsequently the inputting of the last music air number is accepted andcaptured into a register (step S2).

[0191] It is then checked whether or not A=B, that is whether or not theleading music air number of the album is the same as the last music airnumber (step S3). If the result of decision at this step S3 is YES, thatis if the leading music air number of the album is the same as the lastmusic air number, the leading music air number of the album is renderedinto an ASCII code and “a;” is stored in the buffer (step S4). If theresult of decision at step S3 is NO, that is if the leading music airnumber of the album differs from the last music air number, the leadingmusic air number of the album A is rendered into an ASCII code a, whilethe last leading music air number of the album A is rendered into anASCII code b, and “a-b” is stored in the buffer (step S5).

[0192] The inputting of the album title then is accepted (step S6) andthe input album title is stored in the buffer (step S7).

[0193] The contents thus stored in the buffer [a or a-b; (album title)]is registered in the disc name area (step S8) to finish the album titleinputting mode.

[0194] The processing of registration of the buffer contents in the discname area at step S8 is performed in accordance with, for example, thesequence shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9.

[0195] That is, in the processing for registration in the disc namearea, it is first verified whether or not the disc name area is null(step S801). The disc name area being null indicates that the disc nameis null, that is blank. If the result of decision at step S801 indicatesnull, that is if the disc name area is null, the contents of the buffer[a or a-b; (album title)] is registered in the disc name area (stepS802) to finish the registration processing in the disc name area. Thus,if the album title “8-10; GA” is input in the disc name area=null, thecontents shown in FIG. 10 are registered in the disc name area.

[0196] If the result of decision at step S801 is_null, that is if thedisc name area is not null, the form of “n1-m1;” or “n1;” is retrievedfrom the leading end (step S803) to check whether or not the form iscoincident (step S804), where n1 and m1 are numerical figures in theASCII code.

[0197] If the result of decision at step S804 is NO, that is if the formis not coincident, “0;” is inserted at the leading end of the disc namearea (step S805). The pointer indicating the inside of the disc namearea is moved to the trailing end (step S806). Next to the “//”, thebuffer contents [a or a-b; (album title)] is added to the disc name area(step S807) to finish the registration processing in the disc name area.By so doing, if there is the disc name “MiniDisc//” from the outset, asshown for example in FIG. 11A, an album name “1-7; SONY” is added, “0;MiniDisc//1-7; SONY” is registered in the disc name area, as shown inFIG. 11B.

[0198] On the other hand, if the result of decision at step S804 is YES,that is if the form coincides, the form of “n2-m2” or “n2;” is retrievedin succession (step S808) to check whether or not the form coincides(step S809). It is noted that n1 and m1 are numerical figures in theASCII code.

[0199] If the result of decision at step S809 is NO, that is if the formfails to coincide, the program moves to step S806 to move the pointerindicating the inside of the disc name area to the trailing end to addthe buffer contents next to “//” in the disc name area (step S807) tofinish the registration processing in the disc name area. If the resultof decision at step S809 is YES that is if the form coincides, it ischecked whether or not the numerical figure a in the ASCII codeindicating the musical air number in the album A is larger than n1 andsmaller than n2 (step S810).

[0200] If the result of decision at step S810 is NO, that is if thenumerical figure is not intermediate between n1 and n2, n2 and m2 areset to n1 and m1, respectively (step S811). The processing then revertsto step S808 to repeat the processing of steps S808 to S811. If theresult of check at step S810 is YES, that is if the above numericalfigure a is intermediate between n1 and n2, “//” is added to the leadingend of the buffer contents [a or a-b; (album title)] (step S812).

[0201] The buffer contents [//a or a-b; (album title)] is inserteddirectly before “//n2” (step S813) to finish the registration processingin the disc name area. In this case, if the album title “8-10; GA” shownin FIG. 10 is registered from the outset and an album title “1-7; SONY”is added, the contents shown in FIG. 12 are registered in the disc namearea.

[0202] The album title display mode is set on pushing e.g., a displaymode button or on selection of an album title from the display menutitle. The processing of this album title display mode is carried out inaccordance with the procedure shown for example in FIG. 13.

[0203] In this album title display mode, the track number currentlybeing displayed or at a standstill is captured into the register TNO(step S11).

[0204] Then, from the leading end of the disc name area, the form “n-m;”is retrieved (step S12) to check whether or not the value of theregister TNO is larger than n and smaller than m as retrieved (stepS13).

[0205] If the result of decision at step S13 is NO, that is if the valueof the register TNO is not intermediate between n and m as retrieved,setting is made for the next retrieving (step S14) to revert to step S12to repeat the processing of from step S12 to step S14. If the result ofdecision at step S13 is YES, that is if the value of the register TNO isintermediate between n and m as retrieved, it is checked whether or notthere is “//” back of “n-m;” (step S15).

[0206] If the result of decision at this step S15 is YES, that is ifthere is “//” back of “n-m;”, the letters from the letter next following“n-m;” up to “//” are extracted and stored in the buffer (step S16). Ifthe result of decision at this step S15 is NO, that is if there is no“//” in back of “n-m;”, the letters up to the last one of “n-m;” isextracted and stored in the buffer (step S17).

[0207] The buffer contents are displayed (step S18) to finish thepresent album title display mode.

[0208] The album erasure mode is set by pushing an album button andsimultaneously pushing an erasure button. In this mode, the album beingplayed can be erased in its entirety. This album erasure mode isexecuted by selecting an album erasure from the edit menu and selectingthe group desired to be erased from the album name.

[0209] The processing of this album erasure mode is carried out inaccordance with e.g., the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14.

[0210] In the processing of this album erasure mode, the track numbercurrently being reproduced or at a standstill is captured into theregister TNO (step S21).

[0211] Then, from the leading end of the disc name area, the form“n1-n2” is retrieved (step S22) to check whether or not the value of theregister TNO is larger than n1 and smaller than n2 as retrieved (stepS23).

[0212] If the result of decision at step S23 is NO, that is if the valueof the register TNO is not intermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved,the next retrieval is set (step S24). Then, processing reverts to stepS22 to repeat the processing of steps S22 to S24. If the result ofdecision at step S23 is YES, that is if the value of the register TNO isintermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved, the tracks contained in thealbum are continuously erased (step S25) and the album title is erasedfrom the disc name area (step S26) to complete the processing of thealbum erasure mode.

[0213] If, from the disc name area in which “1-7; SONY//8-10;GA//11-20;MiniDisc” has been registered, the album “8-10; GA” has been erased bythis album erasure mode processing, as shown in FIG. 15A, the registeredcontents of the disc name area are “1-7; SONY//8-17; MiniDisc”, as shownin FIG. 15B.

[0214] The continuous track erasure at step S25 is carried out inaccordance with the sequence shown e.g., in the flowchart of FIG. 16.

[0215] That is, in the continuous track erasure, the number of albumsrecorded is calculated by the operation of i=n2−n1+1 (step S251).

[0216] Then, p=n1 is set to set a pointer p of the music air to beerased (step S252).

[0217] Then, one air erasure processing for erasing one music air forwhich the pointer p has been set (step S253).

[0218] For verifying whether or not the music airs recorded in the albumhave been processed repeatedly, it is checked whether or not the numberof recorded music airs in the album is larger than 0 (step S254). If theresult of decision is YES, that is if the number of recorded music airsin the album is larger than 0, the number of recorded music airs isdecremented by 1 (step S255) to revert to step S252. The processing ofsteps S252 to 255 is repeated until the number of recorded airs is 0 tofinish the continuous track erasure processing.

[0219] It is noted that the music air erasure processing at step S253 iscarried out in accordance with the procedure shown in the flowchart ofFIG. 17.

[0220] That is, in the one-air erasure processing, the music air, forwhich the pointer p has been set, is erased (step S2531).

[0221] It is then verified whether or not there is the music air number(n1+1) (step S2532). If the result of decision is NO, that is if thereis no music air number (n1+1), the continuous track erasure processingis terminated.

[0222] If the result of decision at step S2532 is YES, that is if thereis the music air number (n1+1), the music air number as from (n1+1) isincremented by one (step S2533).

[0223] Next, it is checked whether or not the music air number is thelast number (step S2534). If the result of check is NO, that if themusic air number is not the last one, processing reverts to step S252 torepeat the processing from steps S2533 and S2534 until the result ofdecision at step S256 is YES to complete the one-air erasure processing.

[0224] The album title erasure processing at the above step S26 iscarried out in accordance with e.g., the procedure shown in theflowchart of FIG. 18.

[0225] In this album title erasure processing, it is first checkedwhether or not there is “//” directly ahead of “n1-n2” (step S261).

[0226] If the result of decision at this step S261 is YES, that is ifthere is “//” directly ahead of “n1-n2”, “//” directly ahead of “n1-n2”is deleted at step S262 to then transfer to step S263. If the result ofdecision at this step S261 is NO, that is if there is no “//” directlyahead of “n1-n2”, processing directly transfers to step S263.

[0227] At step S263, it is checked whether or not there is “//n3”(n3=n2+1) at back of “n1-n2”. If the result of decision at this stepS263 is NO, that is if there is no “//n3” at back of “n1-n2”, the letterstring downstream of “n1-n2” is deleted (step S264) to terminate thealbum title erasure processing. If the result of decision at this stepS263 is YES, that is if there is “//n3” at back of “n1-n2”, the letterstring up to the letter directly ahead of “//n3” is erased (step S265).Then, processing transfers to step S266.

[0228] At step S266, it is verified whether or not the form is“//n3-n4”. If the result of check at this step S266 is NO, that is ifthe form is not “//n3-n4”, processing transfers to step S268. If theresult of check at this step S266 is YES, that is if the form is“//n3-n4”, n4−(n2−n1+1) is set to new n4 to correct the last music airnumber of the next album (step S267). The processing then transfers tostep S268.

[0229] At step S268, n3−(n2−n1+1) is set to new n3 to correct theleading music air number of the next album.

[0230] It is then checked whether or not there is the form of “//n5”further backwards (step S269). If the result of check is YES, that is ifthere is the form “//n5” backwards, processing reverts to step S267 torepeat the processing of from step S267 to step S269 until the result ofdecision at this step S256 is NO, that is if the form “//nx” ceases toexit backwards (step S267 to step S269) to correct the music air numberin succession to terminate the album title erasure processing operation.

[0231] Thus, in this MD recorder 1, if a predetermined group or apredetermined album in the plural groups or albums are commanded to beerased in a block, the correlation among the range information of theprogram numbers forming the group(s) or album(s) in the secondmanagement data is edited to manage the program(s) recorded in the musicair 90 as plural groups or albums to perform editing by group- oralbum-based block erasure.

[0232] The processing of the album movement mode is carried out inaccordance with the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19.

[0233] In this album movement mode, the track number, the track numbercurrently being reproduced or at a standstill is captured into theregister TNO (step S31).

[0234] Then, from the leading end of the disc name area, the form“n1-n2”is retrieved (step S32) to check whether or not the value of theregister TNO is larger than n1 and smaller than n2 (step S33).

[0235] If the result of decision at step S33 is NO, that is if the valueof the register TNO is not intermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved,the next retrieval is set (step S34). Then, processing reverts to stepS32 to repeat the processing of steps S32 to S34. If the result ofdecision at step S33 is YES, that is if the value of the register TNO isintermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved, the tracks contained in thealbum are continuously moved (step S35) and the album title is changedfrom the disc name area (step S36) to complete the processing of thealbum movement mode.

[0236] If, from the disc name area in which “1-7; SONY//8-10;GA//11-20;MiniDisc” have been registered, the album “8-10; GA” has been moved tobackwardly of the album “11-20; MiniDisc”, as shown in FIG. 20, theregistered contents of the disc name area are “1-7; SONY//8-17;MiniDisc//18-20; GA”, as shown in FIG. 20.

[0237] In this MD recorder 1, if the sequence change is commanded on apredetermined group in the plural groups or predetermined group in thealbum, the correlation between the range information of the programnumbers making up the groups or albums in the second management data andthe group or album names is edited and the predetermined groups oralbums are moved in a block, whereby the programs recorded in themagneto-optical disc can be supervised as plural groups or albums tocause movement on the group or album basis.

[0238] The album AMS mode is set by pushing an album button andsimultaneously pushing an FF/FR button. In this mode, the album next tothe album containing the musical air being played can be accessed. Theprocessing in this album AMS mode is carried out by a procedure shownfor example in the flowchart of FIG. 21.

[0239] In this album AMS mode, the track number, the track numbercurrently being reproduced or the track number at a standstill iscaptured into the register TNO (step S41).

[0240] Then, from the leading end of the disc name area, the form“n1-n2”is retrieved (step S42) to check whether or not the value of theregister TNO is larger than n1 and smaller than n2 (step S43).

[0241] If the result of decision at step S43 is NO, that is if the valueof the register TNO is not intermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved,the next retrieval is set (step S44). Then, processing reverts to stepS42 to repeat the processing of steps S42 to S44. If the result ofdecision at step S43 is YES, that is if the value of the register TNO isintermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved,“//n3” at back of “n1-n2” isretrieved (step S45).

[0242] At the next step S46, it is checked whether or not “//n3” ispresent backwardly of −n1-n2”. If the result of check at this step isNO, that is if there is no “//n3” backwardly of “n1-n2”, the processingof the album AMS mode is terminated. If the result of check at this stepis YES, that is if there is “//n3” backwardly of “n1-n2”, thecorresponding album name and the music air name are demonstrated in thetrack number n3 (step S47) to access the track number n3 (step S48) toterminate the processing of the album AMS mode.

[0243] The album repeat mode processing is performed in accordance withthe processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 22.

[0244] In this album repeat mode, the track number, the track numbercurrently being reproduced or the track number at a standstill iscaptured into the register TNO (step S51).

[0245] Then, from the leading end of the disc name area, the form“n1-n2”is retrieved (step S52) to check whether or not the value of theregister TNO is larger than n1 and smaller than n2 (step S53).

[0246] If the result of decision at step S53 is NO, that is if the valueof the register TNO is not intermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved,the next retrieval is set (step S54). Then, processing reverts to stepS52 to repeat the processing of steps S52 to S54. If the result ofdecision at step S53 is YES, that if the value of the register TNO isintermediate between n1 and n2 as retrieved, it is checked whether ornot the value of TNO+1 is smaller than n2 (step S55).

[0247] If the result of decision at this step S55 is YES, that is if thevalue of TNO+1 is smaller than n2, the next track is set to TNO+1 (stepS56). If the result of decision at this step S55 is NO, that is if thevalue of TNO+1 is smaller than n2, n1 is set a the track number (stepS57) to terminate the processing at this album repeat mode.

[0248] The system controller 11 in this MD recorder 1 has a variety ofprocessing functions, such as linking or splitting of albums or erasure,linking and splitting of tracks in an-album.

[0249] That is, in this MD recorder 1, if it is commanded to link thepredetermined groups or albums, the correlation between the rangeinformation of the program numbers forming the above groups or albums inthe second management data and the group or album names is edited tosupervise the programs recorded in the magneto-optical disc 90 as pluralgroups or albums to perform the editing of linking the groups or albums.In the editing processing by album linking, as shown in FIG. 23A, if, ina disc in the disc name area of which “1-7; SONY//8-10;GA//11-20;MiniDisc” is registered, the album “1-7; SONY” is linked to the album“8-10;GA”, the album “GA” vanishes, with the registered contents in thedisc name area being “1-10; SONY//11-20; MiniDisc”, as shown in FIG.23B.

[0250] Moreover, if, in this MD recorder 1, the predetermined group oralbum name is commanded to be divided in two portions, the correlationbetween the range information of the program numbers making up thepredetermined group or album name in the second management data and thegroup or album name can be edited to supervise the programs recorded onthe magneto-optical disc 90 as plural groups or album names to dividethe group or the album name in two. In this editing processing by albumdivision, as shown in FIG. 24A, if, in a disc in a disc name area ofwhich has been recorded “1-10; SONY//11-20; MiniDisc”, an album has beendivided between the fifth and the sixth music airs, the registrationcontents of the disc name area is “1-5; SONY//6-10; 11-20; MiniDisc”, asshown in FIG. 24B. At a time point this processing is finished, thealbum name for 6-10 is not afforded so that the album name is blank, ornull. Meanwhile, the album name, which is blank, may be assigned byanother processing not shown in the present invention.

[0251] Moreover, if, in this MD recorder 1, the programs making up thepredetermined group or album in the plural groups or albums are erased,the correlation between the range information of the program numbersmaking up the group or the album in the second management data and thegroup name or album can be edited to supervise the programs recorded onthe magneto-optical disc 90 as plural groups to erase the programs inthe group or album by way of editing. In the editing processing byerasure of the tracks in an album, if, in a disc in the disc name areaof which “1-7; SONY//8-10; GA//11-20; MiniDisc” has been registered, asshown for example in FIG. 25A, the third music air is erased, the formerfourth air is re-defined to be the new third air, with the originalfifth air being re-defined to be the new fourth air, whereby theregistration contents in the disc name area is “1-6; SONY//7-9;GA//10-19; MiniDisc”, as shown in FIG. 25B.

[0252] Moreover, if, in this MD recorder 1, two programs making up apredetermined group or album of the plural groups or albums are linkedtogether, the correlation between the range information of the programnumbers making up the group or the album in the second management dataand the group name or album can be edited to supervise the programsrecorded on the magneto-optical disc 90 as plural groups to link twoprograms recorded in the group or album. In the editing processing bytrack linking in an album, if, in a disc in the disc name area of which“1-7; SONY//8-10; GA//11-20; MiniDisc” has been registered, as shown forexample in FIG. 26A, the first and second music airs are linked, theformer first and second music airs are shifted to be the new first air,with the original third air being shifted to be the new second air,whereby the registration contents in the disc name area is “1-6;SONY//7-9; GA//10-19; MiniDisc”, as shown in FIG. 26B.

[0253] Moreover, if, in this MD recorder 1, predetermined programsmaking up a predetermined group or album of the plural groups or albumsare linked together, the correlation between the range information ofthe program numbers making up the group or the album in the secondmanagement data and the group name or album can be edited to supervisethe programs recorded on the magneto-optical disc 90 as plural groups tosplit the program recorded in the group or album. In the editingprocessing by track splitting in an album, if, in a disc in the discname area of which “1-7; SONY//8-10; GA//11-20; MiniDisc” has beenregistered, as shown for example in FIG. 27A, the fifth music air issplit, the former fifth music air is rearwardly shifted to be the newfifth and sixth music airs, with the original sixth air being rearwardlyshifted to be the new seventh air, whereby the registration contents inthe disc name area is “1-8; SONY//9-11; GA//12-21; MiniDisc”, as shownin FIG. 27B.

[0254] Moreover, this system controller 11 in the MD recorder 1 performsthe processing of reflecting a series of recordings as being therecordings by an album by pushing an album button and simultaneouslyscanning a recording button.

[0255] For example, if, ten airs are newly recorded on a disc, in thedisc name area of which “1-7; SONY//8-10; GA” has been registered, asshown in FIG. 28A, the registration contents in the disc name area are“1-7; SONY//8-10; GA//11-20”, as shown in FIG. 28B. That is, “//11-20”has been newly recorded next to the disc name area in which has beenrecorded “1-7; SONY//8-10; GA”.

[0256] For example, if five airs are overwrite-recorded as an album in amid portion of the third air of the disc in the disc name area of whichhas been recorded “1-7; SONY//8-10; GA”, as shown in FIG. 29A, the unityas an album of “1-7; SONY” is fractionated into “1-3; SONY” and into“9-10”, and an album “4-8” is overwritten in the former half from thelatter half of the third air to a mid portion of the sixth air, so thatthe registration contents of the disc name area are “1-3; SONY//4-8;//9-10;//11-13; GA”, as shown in FIG. 29B. Since the air comes to aclose before the tenth air prior to the tenth air beforeoverwrite-recording of the recorded portion as shown in FIG. 29B on thedisc recorded as in FIG. 29A, there is produced no change in the totalrecording capacity.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording medium in which a plurality ofprograms are collected into a plurality of groups and are managed andrecorded in this form, comprising: a program recording area in whichsaid programs are recorded; a first management data recording area inwhich the first management data for supervising the program names ofsaid plural programs is recorded; and a second management data recordingarea in which the names of the programs collected in said plural groupsand the names of said groups are correlated and are recorded as thesecond management data along with the separating information forseparating the program names and the group names.
 2. The recordingmedium according to claim 1 wherein the second management data recordedin said second management data recording area has a plurality of thegroup information made up of said program numbers, said group names andthe separating information and wherein the respective group informationare partitioned by the partitioning information.
 3. The recording mediumaccording to claim 1 wherein the name of a recording medium foridentifying said recording medium is further recorded in said secondmanagement data recording area.
 4. An editing apparatus for editing aprogram recorded on a recording medium including a program area forrecording a plurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs,and a management area, having recorded therein the first management datafor managing the program names for respective programs recorded in saidprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in said program area arecollected, special codes partitioning said groups from one another, andgroup names, comprising: operating means for commanding changes in thesequence of predetermined ones of said plural groups; and editing meanswhich, in case changes in the sequence of predetermined ones of saidplural groups are commanded by said operating means, edits thecorrelation of said range information of program numbers making up eachof a plurality of groups in said second management data and said groupnames to cause block movement of said predetermined groups.
 5. Theediting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein program names in saidfirst management data are managed in association with the programnumbers of the respective programs and wherein if a change in thesequence of predetermined groups in said plural groups is commanded bysaid operating means, the correlation between the program numbers insaid first management data and the program numbers are concomitantlyedited.
 6. An editing apparatus for editing a program recorded on arecording medium including a program area for recording a plurality ofprograms for recording a plurality of programs, and a management area,having recorded therein the first management data for managing theprogram names for respective programs recorded in said program area, andthe second management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating means for commanding division of a predetermined program ofpredetermined ones of said plural groups; and editing means which, incase division of a predetermined program of predetermined ones of saidplural groups is commanded by said operating means, edits thecorrelation of said range information of program numbers making up eachof a plurality of groups in said second management data and said groupnames.
 7. The editing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein programnames in said first management data are managed in association with theprogram numbers of the respective programs, and wherein, if division ofpredetermined groups in said plural groups is commanded by saidoperating means, the correlation between the program numbers and theprogram names is concomitantly edited.
 8. The editing apparatusaccording to claim 6 wherein said editing means further edits the rangeof the program number forming a group next following the predeterminedgroup containing the predetermined program commanded to be split.
 9. Anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in said program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating means for commanding linking of two of the programs making upa predetermined group of said plural groups; and editing means which, incase linking of two of the programs making up a predetermined group ofsaid plural groups is commanded by said operating means, edits thecorrelation of said range information of program numbers making up eachof a plurality of groups in said second management data and said groupnames.
 10. The editing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein programnames in said first management data are managed in association with theprogram numbers of the respective programs, and wherein, if linking oftwo of the programs making up a predetermined group of said pluralgroups is commanded by said operating means, the correlation between theprogram numbers and the program names is concomitantly edited.
 11. Anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in said program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating means for commanding division of a predetermined group of saidplural groups into two; and editing means which, in case division ofsaid predetermined group is commanded by said operating means, edits thecorrelation of said range information of program numbers making up eachof a plurality of groups in said second management data and said groupnames.
 12. The editing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein ifdivision of said predetermined group is commanded by said operatingmeans, the group name accorded to said predetermined group is accordedto one of the two groups resulting from division.
 13. The editingapparatus according to claim 12 wherein if division of saidpredetermined group is commanded by said operating means, the group nameof the other of the two groups resulting from division is blank.
 14. Anediting apparatus for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in said program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating means for commanding linking of predetermined ones of saidplural groups; and editing means which, in case linking of predeterminedones of said plural groups is commanded by said operating means, editsthe correlation of said range information of program numbers making upeach of a plurality of groups in said second management data and saidgroup names to cause block movement of said predetermined groups. 15.The editing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein if linking of saidpredetermined groups is commanded by said operating means, the groupname accorded to a forward one of said predetermined groups is accordedto the group resulting from linking.
 16. The editing apparatus accordingto claim 14 wherein if linking of said predetermined group is commandedby said operating means, the group name accorded to a backward one ofsaid predetermined groups is accorded to the group resulting fromlinking.
 17. The editing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein iflinking of said predetermined groups is commanded by said operatingmeans, the group name accorded to a forward one of said predeterminedgroups and the group name accorded to a backward one of saidpredetermined groups are linked and accorded to the group resulting fromlinking.
 18. An editing apparatus for editing a program recorded on arecording medium including a program area for recording a plurality ofprograms for recording a plurality of programs, and a management area,having recorded therein the first management data for managing theprogram names for respective programs recorded in said program area, andthe second management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating means for commanding block erasure of predetermined ones ofsaid plural groups; and editing means which, in case block erasure ofpredetermined ones of said plural groups is commanded by said operatingmeans, edits the correlation of said range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups in said secondmanagement data and said group.
 19. An editing method for editing aprogram recorded on a recording medium including a program area forrecording a plurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs,and a management area, having recorded therein the first management datafor managing the program names for respective programs recorded in saidprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in said program area arecollected, special codes partitioning said groups from one another, andgroup names, comprising: operating step for commanding changes in thesequence of predetermined ones of said plural groups; and editing stepwhich, in case changes in the sequence of predetermined ones of saidplural groups are-commanded by-said operating step, edits thecorrelation of said range information of program numbers making up eachof a plurality of groups in said second management data and said groupnames to cause block movement of said predetermined groups.
 20. Theediting method according to claim 19 wherein program names in said firstmanagement data are managed in association with the program numbers ofthe respective programs and wherein if a change in the sequence ofpredetermined groups in said plural groups is commanded by saidoperating step, the correlation between the program numbers in saidfirst management data and the program numbers are concomitantly edited.21. An editing method for editing a program recorded on a recordingmedium including a program area for recording a plurality of programsfor recording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in said program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating step for commanding division of a predetermined program ofpredetermined ones of said plural groups; and editing step which, incase division of a predetermined program of predetermined ones of saidplural groups is commanded by said operating step, edits the correlationof said range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups in said second management data and said group names.22. The editing method according to claim 21 wherein program names insaid first management data are managed in association with the programnumbers of the respective programs, and wherein, if division ofpredetermined groups in said plural groups is commanded by saidoperating step, the correlation between the program numbers and theprogram names is concomitantly edited.
 23. An editing method for editinga program recorded on a recording medium including a program area forrecording a plurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs,and a management area, having recorded therein the first management datafor managing the program names for respective programs recorded in saidprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in said program area arecollected, special codes partitioning said groups from one another, andgroup names, comprising: operating step for commanding linking of two ofthe programs making up a predetermined group of said plural groups; andediting step which, in case linking of two of the programs making up apredetermined group of said plural groups is commanded by said operatingstep, edits the correlation of said range information of program numbersmaking up each of a plurality of groups in said second management-dataand said group names.
 24. The editing method according to claim 23wherein program names in said first management data are managed inassociation with the program numbers of the respective programs, andwherein, if linking of two of the programs making up a predeterminedgroup of said plural groups is commanded by said operating step, thecorrelation between the program numbers and the program names isconcomitantly edited.
 25. An editing method for editing a programrecorded on a recording medium including a program area for recording aplurality of programs for recording a plurality of programs, and amanagement area, having recorded therein the first management data formanaging the program names for respective programs recorded in saidprogram area, and the second management data, made up of the rangeinformation of program numbers making up each of a plurality of groupsinto which the plural programs recorded in said program area arecollected, special codes partitioning said groups from one another, andgroup names, comprising: operating step for commanding division of apredetermined group of said plural groups into two; and editing stepwhich, in case division of said predetermined group is commanded by saidoperating step, edits the correlation of said range information ofprogram numbers making up each of a plurality of groups in said secondmanagement data and said group names.
 26. The editing method accordingto claim 25 wherein if division of said predetermined group is commandedby said operating step, the group name accorded to said predeterminedgroup is accorded to one of the two groups resulting from division. 27.The editing method according to claim 25 wherein if division of saidpredetermined group is commanded by said operating step, the group nameof the other of the two groups resulting from division is blank.
 28. Anediting method for editing a program recorded on a recording mediumincluding a program area for recording a plurality of programs forrecording a plurality of programs, and a management area, havingrecorded therein the first management data for managing the programnames for respective programs recorded in said program area, and thesecond management data, made up of the range information of programnumbers making up each of a plurality of groups into which the pluralprograms recorded in said program area are collected, special codespartitioning said groups from one another, and group names, comprising:operating step for commanding linking of predetermined ones of saidplural groups; and editing step which, in case linking of predeterminedones of said plural groups is commanded by said operating step, editsthe correlation of said range information of program numbers making upeach of a plurality of groups in said second management data and saidgroup names to cause block movement of said predetermined groups. 29.The editing method according to claim 28 wherein if linking of saidpredetermined groups is commanded by said operating step, the group nameaccorded to a forward one of said predetermined groups is accorded tothe group resulting from linking.
 30. The editing method according toclaim 28 wherein if linking of said predetermined group is commanded bysaid operating step, the group name accorded to a backward one of saidpredetermined groups is accorded to the group resulting from linking.31. The editing method according to claim 28 wherein if linking of saidpredetermined groups is commanded by said operating step, the group nameaccorded to a forward one of said predetermined groups and the groupname accorded to a backward one of said predetermined groups are linkedand accorded to the group resulting from linking.
 32. An editing methodfor editing a program recorded on a recording medium including a programarea for recording a plurality of programs for recording a plurality ofprograms, and a management area, having recorded therein the firstmanagement data for managing the program names for respective programsrecorded in said program area, and the second management data, made upof the range information of program numbers making up each of aplurality of groups into which the plural programs recorded in saidprogram area are collected, special codes partitioning said groups fromone another, and group names, comprising: operating step for commandingblock erasure of predetermined ones of said plural groups; and editingstep which, in case block erasure of predetermined ones of said pluralgroups is commanded by said operating step, edits the correlation ofsaid range information of program numbers making up each of a pluralityof groups in said second management data and said group.